My Ex-Gilead Witness Sister Calls Me For the 1st Time in 5 Years

by flipper 21 Replies latest jw friends

  • flipper
    flipper

    I think she was put up to it by my mother, but perhaps not. She had some major back surgery- and although she has been extremely critical of me fading from the witnesses, I called her and left a message the other day to say my wife and I were thinking of her and wished her a speedy recovery. She was pleasant, authentic, and genuinely happy that I was showing concern for her ! Shocking to believe this was the same sister who damned me to hell 2 years ago saying I was breaking my parents hearts and hurting them by having stopped going to meetings 5 years ago !

    So what's changed in her life ? It's called - adversity and dealing with her husband's aged parents. Not only has her lower back been bad and needed operating , but her wrists had arthritis and needed an operation a couple years ago. My sister has always regular pioneered , had the martyr's syndrome, and generally looked down on anybody not totally committed to the WT society with the spiritual foot on the accelerator so to speak. She said her elder husbands 2 inactive sisters were helping her and hubby take care of her husbands aging father . I took the opportunity to commend that and said, " It sure is good that your husband's sisters are helping you and hubby out to watch his dad ! " She came back and said, " Yeah, my husbands sisters make a good team with us to watch his dad ! " I about dropped the phone !

    So what do you think ? Could it be as time goes on - due to stresses, some of these witnesses are being forced to deal with the realities of life and be more real and authentic to cope ? Have you found similar experiences ? Look forward to hearing from you

  • Awakened at Gilead
    Awakened at Gilead

    Well, they might finally be realizing that Millions now living will get old and die, including pioneers...

    Its a good sign she's willing to talk to you!

    Lance

  • oompa
    oompa

    no friend....and i so wish i did not have to...but i think it is great that she has no choice but to accept that these two inactive sisters are REAL PEOPLE WHO STILL CARE!!....imagine that...people who dont believe still care....and yet they will be destroyed..........damm........best wishes to your family....i care too........oompa

  • moshe
    moshe

    I know it is hard for a religionist to believe, but non-theists can be very caring people. Since they no longer look to a supreme being to make things right, they roll up their sleves and attempt to make the world a better place. Thanks for sharing your story.

  • Witness 007
    Witness 007

    I think you handled it well. Very tactful.

  • caliber
    caliber
    imagine that...people who dont believe still care

    I agree with oompa .... love in action from the heart... "love never fails."... it may delay but finds away !"

    Love is not issued forth from an organization but springs from the heart ! When you open your hand in

    honest caring and compassion it sometimes can the pierce artificial layers of cult thinking.

    Caliber

  • choosing life
    choosing life

    One of a cult's tactics is to keep people so busy that they have little time for anything else. Now that your sister has been forced to slow down, she has time to really think about things. The authentic personality can start to show itself again.

    People with chronic health issues are forced to slow down and are quickly not the center of attention in the dub world. The dubs have little use for weakness, be it physical, mental or spiritual. That is a rude awakening.

    It is easy to worship a God you think is always there for you. It becomes more difficult when he allows you to suffer chronic illness, pain, etc. The gut reaction is to rethink everything about the permission of evil and suffering. The fairy tales are much easier to swallow when you are not the one suffering.

    Sorry your sister is suffering and dealing with a sick relative, but hoping that it forces her to rethink the whole scheme of things and return to her real self.

    Glad she called you, Flipper.

  • flipper
    flipper

    AWAKENED at GILEAD - It is a good sign my sister is willing to talk with me . Maybe she is becoming aware of her mortality.

    OOMPA- Yeah - It is great that my sister has seen her husband's sisters help with her father in law. Thanks for your best wishes.

    MOSHE - Very true - non religious people are very caring people. They care for the right motives - not just to please a church or God . As you say - just want to make the world a better place.

    WITNESS 007 - Thanks, appreciate it.

    CALIBER - So true what you say - Love that comes from the heart can " pierce artificial layers of cult thinking " ! I like how you put that.

    CHOOSING LIFE- Good point by you that my sister has more time now to think since she is down after back surgery. It could be that all these health issues are making her think about the real life more and not the fantasy life. Hope she stays in the real life

  • flipper
    flipper

    Figured I'd bump this one up for weekenders who didn't get a chance to read it or comment. Thanks, Peace out, Mr. Flipper

  • restrangled
    restrangled

    As discussed with you, those hardliners once faced with pain and suffering whether physical or mental, suddenly need family. And the family most supportive has usually been shunned in the past.

    If they learn their lesson, they become more accepting and doors are opened. Or there is the type that once taken care of quickly revert when the next article in the Watchtower tells them to, or the next assembly.

    All you can do is be the human beings these people need to aspire to be. Something lost within the JW religion.

    (Best regards Flipper and wife)....take care....your friend r.

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